Mets Morning News: Reyes To DL, Contract Negotiations, Breaking Records

It appears Jose Reyes will be placed on the disabled list with a left hamstring strain. According to Adam Rubin, Nick Evans has been called up from Triple-A Buffalo.

"We have to see what is going to be the best-case scenario for me," said Reyes, who leads the majors with a .354 average. "If I have to go (to the DL), if I really need to go, I have to do it."

A Little side note: This year's All-Star Game will be the third All-Star Game Reyes will have to miss because of injury.

According to Mike Puma of the NY Post, the Mets will begin secret negotiations to re-sign Jose Reyes during the season.

Last month, general manager Sandy Alderson announced he had reached out to Reyes' agent, Peter Greenberg, to begin dialogue, but was rebuffed. Reyes also indicated he wanted to focus on baseball and not contract issues. But one of the sources called the proclamations by Reyes and Alderson a likely "smokescreen" designed to protect the player and organization from dealing with daily questions about the negotiations.

By keeping discussions secret, the Mets would also protect Reyes from fan backlash should he reject an offer that might be deemed fair by the public, but under market value by Reyes’ camp.

As Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal points out, Justin Turner is on pace to set a new team record for getting hit by pitches.

On average, he has been hit once every 38.7 plate appearances. And if he continues to get plunked at that rate, assuming he remains in the starting lineup, he will set a Mets single-season record for baseballs absorbed by the human body. The current record of 13 belongs to Ron Hunt, who set it in 1963, and John Olerud, who tied it in 1997.

Mets Keep It Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

The Mets beat the Dodgers 5-3, and have now won four straight. The also moved to three games above .500.

• Jon Niese went seven innings, giving up three runs on five hits, while striking out six and walking one.

• Carlos Beltran went 2-5 at the plate with two runs scored. He lead off the fourth and sixth innings with his 25th and 26th doubles of the year. Beltran now leads the league in doubles.

• Lucas Duda doubled in the fourth inning to get the Mets on the board.

• The Mets had a three-run sixth inning. Beltran scored the first run on a wild pitch from Hiroki Kuroda. A few batters later, Ruben Tejada hit a two-run double to right field.

• Justin Turner added an insurance run in the ninth inning with an RBI single. Turner finished the night going 2-5.

• All five of the Mets runs were scored with two outs.

• Francisco Rodriguez recorded his 22nd save of the season.

Next up: The Mets close out their series with Los Angeles. Dillon Gee will take the mound for New York. Game time is 10:10 p.m.

Niese, Mets Go For Fourth Straight Win

July 6, 2011

10:10 PM ET

Dodgers Stadium, Los Angeles

TV: SNY

RADIO: WFAN 660

NEW YORK METS

Starting Pitcher: Jon Niese (7-7, 3.72 ERA)

Niese struggled in the first inning of his last start, giving up three runs to the Yankees. He went on to have five more scoreless innings. Against the Dodgers, he is 0-0 with a 4.76 ERA.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Starting Pitcher: Hiroki Kuroda (6-9, 2.90 ERA)

Kuroda allowed three hits in seven innings against the Angels in his last start. He is 1-4 with a 5.70 ERA against the Mets. 

METS LINEUP:

Pagan-CF, Turner-2B, Beltran-RF, Murphy-3B, Bay-LF, Duda-1B, Thole-C, Tejada-SS, Niese-LHP

Mets Morning News: Shopping K-Rod, Games Finished, & Reyes

According to the Daily News, Sandy Alderson has made it known to other teams that the Mets are shopping Francisco Rodriguez, Jason Isringhausen, and Tim Byrdak.

"They are really trying to move Isringhausen, and also Byrdak and K-Rod (before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline)," one of the sources said. "Those guys have pitched well, and they could help somebody."

Speaking of K-Rod, according to Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal, even Sandy Alderson is a little surprised by how often the closer has been used. K-Rod is on pace to finish 61 games this season.

"I've been a little surprised in some instances myself," general manager Sandy Alderson said, referring to how Collins has used K-Rod. "But that's his job. Am I aware of it? Yes. Do I spend my time counseling Terry on the proper care and feeding of K-Rod? No."

Jose Reyes did not run before Tuesday's game. According to Terry Collins, Reyes' strain in his left hamstring has not gotten any worse, but it was not feeling much better either.

Collins said the Mets will huddle with doctors Wednesday and again discuss whether the DL is an option. However, the manager is resistant because any 15-day DL stint -- which would include the four-day All-Star break -- would force Reyes to miss the second-half-opening series against Philadelphia at Citi Field. It may be preferable to play a man down through the weekend and have Reyes eligible for that series than DL him and have his potent bat out of the lineup against the division leader.

Bay's Two Homers Lift Mets Over Dodgers

In case you were wondering if the Mets could win without Jose Reyes, they can. The Mets beat the Dodgers Tuesday night by a score of 6-0, and have now won three games in a row.

• Mike Pelfrey went six innings, giving up five hits, while striking out two and walking two. I'm glad the Mets announced that Ronny Paulino will be Pelfrey's personal catcher for the foreseeable future. Whether Paulino is a better catcher for Pelfrey, or if it's all just a mental thing, it seems to be working.

• Jason Bay went 2-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. He hit a solo home run in the sixth inning and a three-run homer in the eighth. Dare I say that Bay is finally getting back to his old ways at the plate?

• Carlos Beltran had a nice night at the plate as well, going 2-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Beltran hit his 13th home run in the fifth inning.

• Pedro Beato, Jason Isringhausen, and D.J. Carrasco all had a scoreless inning in relief.

Next up: The Mets send Jon Niese to the mound as they continue their series with the Dodgers. Game time is 10:10 p.m.

Which Pelfrey Will We See Tonight?

July 5, 2011

10:10 PM ET

Dodgers Stadium, Los Angeles

TV: SNY

RADIO: WFAN 660

NEW YORK METS

Starting Pitcher: Mike Pelfrey (4-7, 4.92 ERA)

Pelfrey was not good in his last start, going just 4.2 innings and walking a career-high five batters. He is 0-1 with a 4.80 ERA against the Dodgers.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Starting Pitcher: Ted Lilly (5-8, 4.97 ERA)

Lilly has struggled ins his last few starts. In his last three games, he's allowed 17 earned runs. He has also been battling elbow tenderness. He is 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA against the Mets.

METS LINEUP:

Pagan-CF, Turner-2B, Beltran-RF, Paulino-C, Bay-LF, Murphy-3B, Tejada-SS, Duda-1B, Pelfrey-RHP

Mets Morning News: Reyes Isn't Rushing, Injury Updates

Jose Reyes isn't about to rush back from his current hamstring strain. Reyes suffered a complete hamstring tear back in 2009 at Dodgers Stadium when he tried to play through a hamstring issue.

"I feel like I'm getting better every day, but I don't want to get on the field too soon, because I know what happened in 2009 when I tried to get on the field too soon. Right now I have to take my time."

Injury Updates:

Here are some injury updates, courtesy of the Star-Ledger.

Johan Santana threw from a mound for the second time without any issues.

"He threw another bullpen today, which is good," [Sandy] Alderson said. "Let's see how he feels tomorrow, and what the schedule is for the rest of the week. I think we're approaching that transition point. But Johan himself, and how he responds to these sessions, will dictate how quickly he progresses."

David Wright is continuing to show progress. He will not begin any rehab games this week, however, because he has not begun running.

According to Terry Collins, Ike Davis is "progressing better," after going home to Arizona to continue his rehab from a bone bruise in his left ankle. He is scheduled to run next week.